2018 Frugal Living Challenge

[Deleted User] · 7 February 2018 at 11:58AM

I have been incredibly unfrugal so far this month...an impromptu weekend away has set me back a minimum of a month on my financial plans!

However, it was fabulous and worth every penny really so I'm drawing a line under it and moving on

This month is going to be scraping together what I can and minimising expenditure to offset the damage and putting in proper plans for the months ahead. I still have a couple of expensive weeks ahead with birthdays and family visits but I have a budget in mind for these and intend to hit the end of the month with this all paid for so that March seems less painful!! :rotfl:

Hope everyone is keeping warm!

Moll · 7 February 2018 at 1:12PM

claire1a wrote: »

I really enjoy veg chips (such as butter but or swede), chop chosen veg into strips and bake in the oven. Harder veg usually need longer but just keep an eye on around the 20 min mark! Could you great it and add to bread mixture or Tom sauce to add extra veg... not sure if either of there are an option...

I do this too , but the harder veg I put in the microwave for a few minutes to soften them before the oven

SarahC74 · 7 February 2018 at 6:01PM

Hi all,

Sorry for not posting very much. I have been lurking though and it's so motivating to hear how well everyone is doing. I've really focused on sticking within our budget in January, and we did it! The really shocking thing is the amount we could have be saving if we hadn't frittered money away over the last few years. Really so pleased to have found this thread and have my frugal hat back on!

The key area I can make a difference is on groceries. I have so much stockpiled it's actually ridiculous when you look at it. But it means I have loads of hm freezer meals ready to go, rather than buying take-out or new meals when we don't need them. It's also been fun using up all the weird store cupboard things I've found: millet (finally through that!), wild rice, polenta, all good stuff but never used, until now!

Thanks for being such an inspiration!

SarahC74 · 7 February 2018 at 6:04PM

Re the turnip mountain PipsMum (sorry, can't work out how to quote the message), have you thought about mashing them as toppings, using them in place, or half and half with mashed potato? Lovely with a bit of cheese grilled on top at the last minute. Again, you can freeze as turnip mash.

LittleGingerFox · 7 February 2018 at 7:32PM

SarahC74 Good idea about the mashed turnip toppings- sounds yum!

Moll- thank you! It hasn't even felt like hard work which is why I am kicking myself even more for just wasting money !!!55357;!!!56872; Ah well, we are all on the right track now

LittleGingerFox · 7 February 2018 at 9:14PM

Frugaldom, me and my partner would definitely be up for helping you. It has long been my dream to own a few acres in Pembrokeshire and live off the land as much as is possible and I am lucky to have found a partner that wants the same. No doubt there is a lot we could learn from a 'helpful holiday'

Pipsmum · 8 February 2018 at 8:29AM

Reporting in from base camp on turnip mountain: Thank you for your suggestions. I just can't think why I have never considered vegetable chips Clarie1a, just thinking about them now, at 7 in the morning, and they sounds great. I'm loving the idea of the mash with a little cheese topping as well SarahC74 - I have some cooked mince mixture defrosting in the fridge for tonight, so I now have a plan. I will chop the rest and freeze over the next couple of days - I had got hung up with the idea of having to blanch a huge mound of the stuff, but now, it's just going straight into the freezer - thank you Dawn W.

Tanya12345 · 8 February 2018 at 8:26PM

Hi all, congrats to all who are keeping on, keeping on ! Few tricky days here, just life n all its bumps and lumps. Back to the notebooks and tracking every bean leaving the stronghold !! Took on 3 cockerels but they were particularly mean to our laying ladies, so yesterday they became supper ( apologies to the vegetarians here ). It made me very sad, and I have vowed to eat no more meat unless we produce it. Trying to be on the ball re freezer and larder stocks, shopping from the garden and freezer then the outside world !! Off to lottie and farmers market tomorrow, that should be another week sorted.
Loving reading everyone's comments, what a journey - really appreciate the company, sometimes this frugal life can be a mite lonely xx

spudsmum · 9 February 2018 at 1:24AM

Hi all,

Crazy busy here - we go on holiday tomorrow and I still have a bazillion things to do. Mostly packed other than last minute bits but there doesnt look to be enough - one and a half suitcases between five of us - I have the uneasy feeling I've forgotten stuff.

On to frugality - I'm very proud of myself again - I have come in £63.48 under budget for the week! :j:j Thats even with buying the eldest (and myself

) kfc and treating him to some new headphones for being brave at dentist - that cost me £27 in total so, but for that I could have saved £90 which is nearly 50% of my budget - something to aim for in the future (when he's not at dentist

)

Also had bits of money from skimming accounts, selling stuff online -( finally! ) a quidco payment and DH's antisocial hours payment and other bits and bobs. I have added some more to my emergency fund and some to entertainment budget and will pay another £54 off my credit card tomorrow (£257 in 3 weeks)

Totted up the amount of money in all my pots and virtual jars and I have broken the £1000 barrier (£1024.99!) Thats all money I would have wasted/frittered away without realising in the past that I am now diverting towards specific goals. Cant believe I have accrued that much just since New year - its madness!

Frugaldom · 9 February 2018 at 10:13AM

LittleGingerFox wrote: »

Frugaldom, me and my partner would definitely be up for helping you. It has long been my dream to own a few acres in Pembrokeshire and live off the land as much as is possible and I am lucky to have found a partner that wants the same. No doubt there is a lot we could learn from a 'helpful holiday'

Just say the word, all help is welcome, as is the chance to do some frugal meeting, greeting and socialising. :beer: It's fairly rural, so nowhere to spend any money but there's always something to do or see about here.

2018 Frugal Living Challenge

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